Drop-signal holder



May 2, 1944. G. KINER onor-SIGNAL HOLDER Filed sept. 19. 1941 /ennff''zez? 4/ JLG@ Patented May 2, 1944 DROP-SGNAL HQLDER Glenn Kiner, Markham, Ill., assigner to Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 19, 1941, Serial Noi-411,520

(C1. liv- 329) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to drop-signal holders for portable magneto telephone switchboards, such as used by the Army, for example.

The drop signals with which magneto telephone switchboards are equipped must be fairly sensitivelyconstructed and adjusted in order to readily respond to ringing current, from a magneto telephone, for example. A portable switchboard is often subjected to rough usage and considerable jarring when being transported, causing the drop signals (if not fastened in place) to fall down and be jerked violently around, thereby breaking the signal or destroying its adjustment.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a suitable arrangement for holding the drop signal securely in place while the switchboard is being transported from one location to another.

A further object is to provide a signal holder which remains attached to the switchboard for repeated use, and which may readily be brought into holding position when the switchboard is to be moved, and which may be readily movedV out of the way when the switchboard is set up for use.

The accompanying drawing, comprising Figures 1 to 5, show a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to a portable magneto switchboard of the unit type, commonly used for Army eld communications.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of the switchboard, showing equipment units mounted thereon for two lines, each of the units being equipped with the improved drop-signal holder;

Figure 2 is a partial side view of the righthand unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view of a portion of the equipment shown in Figure 1; and

Figures 4 and 5 are further views, partly in section, similar to Figure 3, but with parts broken away.

As seen best in Figures l and 2, the illustrated portion of the switchboard comprises horizontal mounting bars 3 and 4 to which line units such as I and 2 may be detachably secured in place as illustrated.

The unit I comprises:

The upright mounting strip I having binding posts 5 at the upper portion thereof 2 Pivoted drop signal 6, normally held in position by catch 1, as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 5;

The new and improved drop-signal holder 9,

shown in engaged position in Figures 1, 'Zand 14;

The jack I0, adapted to receiveA the usual of switchboard plug;

Terminal screws II; and

The cord I2, having the conductorsthereof secured to the terminal screws II, the other end of which cord may be'provided with the usual type of switchboard plug.

The parts mounted on unit 2 have similar reference numerals applied, but primed.

For illustrative purposes, the drop-signal holder 9 is shown in its active holding position on the strip I, while the similar device 9 on the unit 2 is shown adjusted to its passive or nonholding position.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, drop-signal 6 is normally held in position by latch l, controlled by the usual electromagnetic drop device` I3. When the latch 'I is raised, the signal 6 drops in the usual manner to indicate a call. When a plug is inserted into the jack I0, the signal 6 may lbe automatically restored by the usual signal restorer 8, comprising an extension of the illustrated tip spring of the jack.

The signal holder 9 is preferably of the illustratedv crank-like construction. The axis portion 'of the device extends through-opening I6, and is constantly urged inwardly or toward the rear of the panel by compression spring ZI, applied between washers 29 and 22. Washer 29 lies against the back of the panel, while washer 22 may be detachably held to the rear end of the holder, by the illustrated machine screw, for example.

A longitudinal key I9, seen best in Figures 2, 4, and 5, is formed on the axis portion of the holder 9, which may be conveniently done in manufacture by an upsetting or similar operation. Keyways I'I and I3 are provided on the opposite side of the opening I6 through which the signal holder 9 passes, as illustrated best at I'I and I B in connection with the opening I9' through the panel of unit 2.

As seen best in Figure 4, when the signal holder 9 is in its active position, the key I9 lies partially within the upper keyway I7 to retain the holder in place against rotation.

When the signal holder 9 is to be moved from the active position illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 4 to the passive position indicated for the device 9 in Figure 1 and the device 9 in Figure 3, the outwardly turned portion of the device 9 may be grasped and the device pulled outwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 5. When the pulledout device is rotated, key I9 passes away from type the vicinity of the keyway I1, permitting the rear portion of key I9 to ride along on the surface of the panel as the device is further rotated about its axis toward passive position. When this passive position is reached, the compression spring 2| draws the key I9 into the lower keyway I8, thus holding the device against rotation in the passive position indicated at 9 in Figure 3 and atSinFig'u're'l., Y- .1 Y.,

When it is desired tov transport the' switchboard to another location, the line wires may be disconnected from the binding posts such as 5 and 5', and the signal holders 9 and 9' areA pulled forward and rotated from the passive position to the active position shownati-BinFigures' 1, 2, and 4 to hold the drop signale 6 and 6'l si'iuglyiri` place as illustrated. When the switchboard. reaches the intended new .losatiomthe vsignal holders may be moved outwardly and rotated substantially 180, whereupon each of; them' is snappedinto place as i111istratettai'l Q ,inLEigure 31 and at 9.' in. Figure. 1, being-lheld. by the clonipression spring 2| and the key- I9 in the lower notch I8.

In conibir1ati-on,r portable telephone vswitchboardapparatus includingapanel having a drop signal mounted on the front' thereof.. and arranged toV drop lto `displayA position when tripped, a signallholder comprising-f.apranlc-like device, said device having.danA axis. portion k passing through the switchboardpanel and-,an armr yportion @grinding generallvparallelto the panel, the arm portion' ofi. the devicev'ibeing rotatable about the axis portion into and out of ,an positionyto overlieusaid signalcloselyto holdit from dropping fr-Omwmal Position ,to display position. and means operative toqhold.; ,said i signal;A holderselcurely-l in the position` it occupies when overlying. saidsignaLn Y board-apparatus mcluiinaapanelthaving a drop tion extending generally parallel to the panel, the arm portion of the device being rotatable about the axis portion into and out of a position to engage the drop signal in normal position and urge it rearwardly, spring means lying behind the panel and engaging the axis portion to urge the device rearwardly of the panel and means rendered effective thereby to retain the said arm either. in its operative orinoperative position.

3. In combination, portable telephone switchboard apparatus including a panel having a drop signal mounted on the front thereof, said signal being pivoted to drop from a normal position generally parallel tothe panel to the display position when tripped, there being an opening through the panel: laterally displaced from said signal, a signal holder comprising a crank-like device,1said device having an axis portion passing through said opening and an arm portion lying in front of the panel and extending generallyrarallel; thereto, the ,arm portionl of the device beingada'pted to be rotated about the axis portion to an active positioninwhich it overlies the signal to hold itfrom droppingY from normal position to displayf position and a passive position in. which it is out lof the pathv of movement of the signal between the said positions thereof, a vkeysecuredto the axisportion slightly to the rear of the arm portion, said opening through the-panel including a keyway` ina positiontoreceive saidy key when the arm is in its active',positionandlthe signal holder is moved rearwardly in theopening, said opening including a further keyway angularly displaced' ,from thel rst and so located as to receive thekey Awhen thegs'ignalholder isl in itspassive Yposition and is movedV rearwardly in the opening movement of the signalholder ifrom one positionto, the other being accomplished by moving the holder forwardly, rotating it to the new positionandmoving it rearwardly to engage the key in the concerned-keyway, and spring means located behind the panel andl interacting betweenthe panel and' ther axis4 portion of the device for retaining the key in the concernedkeyway when the device is in either of the said positions thereof.

GLENN KINER. 

